Washington Spirit Preseason Schedule Features First Ever Game in Virginia

The Washington Spirit will once again host four preseason exhibition matches against four of the nation’s top women’s college teams this March and April, including a first-ever match in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Headlining the traditional annual series is 2016 NCAA College Cup semifinalists and 22-time National Champion University of North Carolina at Evergreen SportsPlex in Leesburg on Saturday, March 25 at 6:30 p.m. ET. The game is included in 2017 Season Ticket packages. All seating is “General Admission” (https://tickets.washingtonspirit.com). Tickets are $10 each for the general public, or $5 each for members from Washington Spirit U.S. Soccer Development Academy and Official Youth Club Partners.

The Spirit will also play three matches at Maureen Hendricks Field at the Maryland SoccerPlex: Penn State University on Saturday, March 18 at 2 p.m. ET, Duke University on Saturday, April 1 at 2 p.m. ET, and University of Virginia on Saturday April 8, at 7 p.m. ET. These matches will be free, however non-Season Ticket fans will need a ticket to enter.

Penn State University won its first ever NCAA Championship in 2015. The squad boasts members of the 2016 Spirit Collegiate Academy team and the U.S. U-20 Women’s World Cup team Rose Chandler, Maddie Elliston, Kaleigh Riehl, and Emily Ogle, as well as 2016 Spirit Reserves players Kristin Schnurr and Brittany Basinger. Washington Spirit NWSL players Joanna Lohman and Whitney Church both starred at Penn State.

University of North Carolina, under the direction of legendary head coach Anson Dorrance, has won 22 NCAA Championships in its storied history. The team reached the semifinal round of the College Cup in 2016. 2017 Spirit draftee Cameron Castleberry just finished her senior season with the Tar Heels.

Duke University finished runner up in the 2015 NCAA College Cup and made it to the quarterfinal round in 2016. Duke players Imani Dorsey, Mia Gyau, Kayla McCoy, and Casey Martinez played for the Spirit Reserves in 2016.

University of Virginia, coached by Steve Swanson, is a perennial soccer power that made it to the third round of the NCAA Tournament in 2016. The team includes Annaugh Madsen who played for our Spirit Collegiate Academy team in 2016.

2017 season ticket holders will be able to pick up their season tickets and season ticket holder scarves at any preseason match.